BASQUE Real Sociedad supporters caused chaos when they descended upon Sevilla this weekend for the Copa del Rey final.
More than 26,000 fans made the 1,800 kilometre round trip from San Sebastian for a day that included fighting with police, singing terrorist songs and booing the Spanish national anthem.
Riot police clashed with rowdy Real Sociedad fans on the Andalucian capital’s Puente de Triana as cries of ‘f*** Spain’ and ‘f*** the national team’ were heard.
Scores of supporters later booed the Spanish anthem in front of King Felipe at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, with photos showing an impassive monarch as deafening whistles drowned out the music.
In a separate incident, a group of Basque fans was filmed in a Sevilla square ahead of the game as they appeared to sing the praises of the Basque terrorist group ETA.
The fans had travelled to the Andalucian capital for the tournament’s final, in which San Sebastian-based Real Sociedad eventually prevailed 3–4 over Atletico Madrid following a penalty shootout.
In footage of the chant, which has since gone viral on social media, Real Sociedad supporters can be heard singing: ‘Somos la banda de Anoeta, ETA!’ (‘We are the band from Anoeta [a small town in the Basque Country, near San Sebastian], ETA!’).
ETA stands for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, which translates as Basque Homeland and Freedom.
The video sparked an uproar online, with scores of outraged users interpreting the chant as a reference to the Basque separatist organisation that killed more than 800 people in bombings and assassinations across Spain before announcing a permanent ceasefire in 2011.
According to several reports, Real Sociedad’s official account had posted the video to its social media channels, only to later remove it as users began to voice outrage.
According to several reports, Real Sociedad’s official account had posted the video to its social media channels, only to later remove it as outrage mounted.
Not far from where the incident took place, residents photographed piles of rubbish strewn across the city’s streets after Real Sociedad supporters allegedly discarded empty cans and cups.
The ultras’ trip to Sevilla followed remarks by Arnaldo Otegi, secretary general of the Basque nationalist party EH Bildu, who urged Real Sociedad supporters to use the high-profile match as an opportunity to ‘show that we are Basque, not Spanish.’
READ MORE: Spain’s immigration officers cancel scheduled strike as migrant legalisation plan gets under way
Otegi also called on supporters to fill the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium with Basque flags, adding that the display should serve as ‘a message to the king,’ according to reports.
Sunday’s victory marked a joyful day for Real Sociedad as they claimed their first trophy in six years.
The Basque side had previously won the Copa del Rey in 2020, ending a 33-year drought without a major title.
Click here to read more Sport News from The Olive Press.
